A PrayerGuard

What is meant by a 'PrayerGuard'? Consider that the security of people who are in important national leadership positions is paramount. In particular, officials from other countries are given protection so that they are able to fulfil their responsibilities free from attack and harm during the time of their visit. Just so in the spiritual realm we are able to give a PrayerGuard by praying for people in positions of spiritual leadership for their safety at all times. This enables them to fulfil their responsibilities with greater ease.

This is a proven strategy that has been most effective when a group of about five people covenant to pray every day for a particular person or persons in positions of leadership in ministry. The person remains responsible for the way they live and fulfil their role while the PrayerGuard group gives them a protection wherever they go thus relieving them of much stress and pressure.

Following is an outline of the prayer strategies used. Each strategy is based on known and recognised situations and is scripturally based. Praying these verses over the person(s) concerned is a wonderful form of protection and provision as they open the doors wide for the Lord to honour His word.

Provision for all needs for the person and his/her immediate family.There are times when the enemy will seek to attack not only the person but those near to them to bring the maximum hurt/distraction into their situation.

1. Health 3 John 2 - Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

2. Finances Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

3. Personal possessions 1 Samuel 30:3 - So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.18 - So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 - And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.This is a classic example of Satan’s attempt to destroy a leader through harming those near and dear to Him. Even in adverse situations, God’s sustaining grace and keeping/restoration power is evident.

4. Protection from danger, particular when travelling. Psalm121:7-8 - The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

5. Protection from unnecessary interruptions and distractions.Psalm 31:20 - You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Timewasting interruptions and distractions are difficulties incurred by most people in leadership positions. Protection is needed.

6. ReputationWe look to those in leadership to be an example of the Christian life expressed with the evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.These verses give us all a high standard to meet. Only by the indwelling grace of Christ can this be fulfilled. Let us not forget that just as fruit develops and is complete at each stage, so we are all developing the life of Christ with this evidence. While not ignoring their personal responsibility, let us pray for those in leadership as they live out their life in Christ daily that they may live a fulfilled Christ-like life with the evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit.

7. False Accusations
These can be even more damaging than accusations that are true. Someone who is falsely accused cannot ‘confess’ to what they have not done. This would be lying and would be a form of manipulation of their own circumstances to achieve their own ends. Yet they still may have to bear judgment from others for what they have not done. Pray that the person will be gracious and kind in the middle of any persecution. Most of all pray that they will be sustained through a very trying trial.Psalm 35:4-14 – Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonour who seek after my life. Let those be turned back and brought to confusions who plot my hurt. Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them. For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let this net that he has hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”
Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know, They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart. I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.
These verses are a description of situations that are all too real. For the offended person to be joyful in the Lord at this time and to be kind to the offender is a wonderful example of the love of God being lovingly and graciously expressed.

It is important that prayers be made consistently and even when it seems that nothing is happening. That there seems to be no need for prayer is because of the effectiveness of those who have covenanted to pray. The fact is that our prayers open the door for God to work on our behalf and His keeping power is being expressed for the person who is being given a PrayerGuard.

Some years ago a visiting minister and his wife were given a PrayerGuard as set out above. They are both now with the Lord. At the time they were quite frail so there was no direct contact between them and the PrayerGuard assigned to them for the duration of their visit to the church where they were ministering. Each day their assigned PrayerGuard prayed for them.

It was on the last night before moving on to their next place of ministry that the speaker publicly expressed his thanks to the intercessors. Although he had not been told of the PrayerGuard assigned to him and his wife, he stated that he knew they were praying for him and his wife as they had experienced such ease of travel, good health and strength during their visit. This was such an encouragement to the intercessors and such a witness to the effectiveness of this strategy.